The Truth About Why Sex is Painful for Your Partner

The female body changes with age, and it can have a dramatic effect on the way a woman experiences sex. Unfortunately, this natural process can make sexual intercourse painful for your female partner, and you might not have a clue why.

Some men are so bewildered that they don’t believe anything is really wrong. How could something that was previously so pleasurable suddenly become painful? 

But the truth is, several health conditions can make sexual intercourse truly painful for a woman. We just don’t talk about them very often in our culture, which is why they catch so many people off-guard. 

Pelvic Floor Disorders

The pelvic floor is a group of muscles and other tissues that form a sling or a hammock across the pelvis. In women, this hammock supports the uterus, bladder, bowel, and other pelvic organs so they can function correctly. 

For a variety of reasons, the pelvic floor can be become weak and impaired, resulting in a Pelvic Floor Disorder such as Pelvic Floor Dysfunction, a Pelvic Organ Prolapse, a Cystocele, or a Uterine Prolapse. 

Pelvic Floor Disorders can occur in men and women but are much more common for women, affecting up to 50% of women who have given birth. Common symptoms include difficulty urinating, unexplained lower back pain, and…you guessed it, painful sexual intercourse. 

In addition to pregnancy and childbirth, Pelvic Floor Disorders can be caused by aging, surgery in the pelvic region, or even just body type. Pelvic Floor Disorders can develop in women after childbirth, even if they did not deliver a baby vaginally, as pregnancy itself alters the structure of your pelvic area, regardless of how the baby is delivered. 

Other Conditions That Can Make Sex Painful

Another unfortunately common cause of painful sex is menopause, which reduces estrogen and natural lubrication to the vagina. The hormonal shift makes the vagina feel thin, dry, and less stretchy. 

Sex can also become painful due to serious conditions like endometriosis or pelvic inflammatory disease. Then there’s the fact that humans naturally become susceptible to different conditions as they age. Your partner could have developed a condition with their urinary tract or bladder, both of which are more common age and can result in pain during sex. 

What You Can Do

If your partner is telling you sex has become painful for them, it’s extremely important that you take them seriously. 

You should also remember that this doesn’t mean you can’t please your partner in other ways, or that you have to ignore your own sexual needs. Sex and intimacy therapy can help couples adapt to their changing bodies and establish what feels good and what doesn’t, making your sexual connection even deeper along the way.  

Let’s schedule a free 15-minute consult today so we can talk about how to keep you and your partner’s sex life alive and well.